Carton



` Feb. 7,1939; J. DAVIDSON 2,146,420

CARTON Filed Aug. 25, 1954` zsheetsfsheet `1 `Internal Feb. 7,1939

i UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcEq y CAR'roN Bruce J. Davidson, Kew Gardens, N. Y., assignor i I -to National Biscuit Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application August "25, 1934, serial No. '141,421 f 12 claims. (cl. 20c- 44) Myinvention pertainsfto cartons and particularly to cartons that are `adapted to be used as shippingcontainers for small packages or articles and can be convertedeasily by the` merchant into I anattractive display and dispensing device.

i My improved carton, as`illustrated, is adapted tobe filled with a number of small packages `of `merchandise,,for example,`with bakery goods such as the well known Barnums Animals, Uneeda Biscuit. and the like. The carton has a weakened or tear line extending along three sides about midway `of the two ends and the fourth side is scored to provide a hinge, these score and tear lines dividing the carton into twoseparable sections connected by the hinge. The packages areV packed in the carton facing in opposite directions on the two sides'of the tear line. One end of the cartonis` provided with a folding part or parts adapted `to form an easel or inclined support for the carton.' The carton is closedand sealed after being packed. `When the `merchant receives it, he will break or tear the carton ,along thetear line on three sides`` `This separates the carton into twolsections connected by the hinge.

One section is turnedabout thishinge until the two sections lie in contact. This exposes the packages in the two sections at` what `was origi`v nally the center of the carton. The easel iaps are then folded into position (or this may be `done before the carton is broken) and the broken .i carton placed in inclined position, supported by the easel, on the counter or other place for dis- I play of the contents which now` face all in the same direction in the two halves.

In` the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated two forms that my invention may`take, wherein` 4 Fig. 1 shows in plan a single piece blank from whichthe carton may be formed.

Fig. 2 shows the carton formed from the blank and ready for filling.

`Fig. 3 shows the carton "lledand the flaps t' forming the easel partly folded down preparatory to sealing.`

Fig. 4 shows the carton sealed" ready for shipment. L I

, Figs; 5 and 6 are perspective views of the end o1" the carton with the easel formed.

i fig. '1 is a perspective view of the broken carton supported on the easel.

Fig."l 8` shows in plan a single piece blank from which a "cartonhaving a different form of easel may be made;` A 1 Fig. 9 shows the carton filled and `the easel partly `i'oldecl down preparatory to `sealing.`

panels I4 and I5 whicharedened by score lines 10 I6., I1, I8, I9, 20, and 2| on; the blank. At one` end the blank has a glue-flap 22, which preferably is notched at the center inV alignment with .a perforated tear line23 extending across the side panel l5 about midway of its length and in align- 15 ment with ascore line or hinge` 24 on therear panel I3 and with similar perforated lines 25 and 26 on the two panels I4 `'and I2. These perforated lines and score line divide` the four panels into two sections each.

I I 2O At one end, which is the bottom end when the cartonis formed but is the` top `end of the blank in Fig. 1, the front, rear and side panels arepro` videdwithfaps 21, 28, 29,`and 3U, which are folded in and secured by glue to close the bottom 25 end of thecarton. I have shown these closing flaps rectangular in shape and adapted tobe secured by glue but they may be made in any shape desired and secured by inter-locking tongues and slots. 30

At the top ends of the side panels I4 and I5, there are extensions which are divided to provide easel rings 36, 31 and load aps 3| and 32, which aps have interlocking tongues 33 and 34 to se-` cure them in closed position. An easel ap 35 is 35 secured to the top edge of the rear panel i3 and to the pair of` easel wings 36' and 31 along scorelines `38 and 39, the .wings being connected to the tops of the panels I4 and I5 along the score line I6. The wingshave diagonal score lines 4U and 40 4I along which. they are` adapted to be folded. The load aps 3l and 32 do not extend the full I widthA of panels I4 and I5 but a part of `the width i and the glue flap 22 is secured to `the free edge of the iront panel I2, preferably on the inside of the panel so that thecartonhasa smooth exterior. The flaps 21and 29 are next turned downl and then the aps 28 and 30 which are secured together to hold the end closed. Usually the ap 30 will overlie the flap 28 so that the carton will have a smooth bottom on the outside but it is immaterial which of these aps overlies the other.

When the carton is assembled, as thus described, it will appear as in Fig. 2 and be ready for filling'. `If itis filled with package goods, it will be iiiled up to the weakened lines 23 and 26 with the fronts of the packages facing upward. This lls the carton half full if the tear lines are midway of the ends of the carton. The top halfV of the carton is then filled with the tops of the packages facing in the opposite direction or downward. When the carton is filled, the load aps 3I and 32 are turned inward and the tongues 33 and 34 interlocked to rclose the top end. The securing flap 42 is next turned down and bent backward along the score line 43, as shown in Fig. 3. T he easel wings 36 and 31 are then bent inward along the diagonal score lines 4I! and 4I andthe easel flap 35 folded down upon the flap 42, the wings 36 and 31 underlying the easel 35, the edge of which now lies adjacent the score line 45. The ilap 44 is now folded over the easel ap 35 and a strip of gummed tape 46 or other suitable adhesive is applied as shown in Fig. 4 so as to hold the easel folded tightly down against the top of thecarton.

When the merchant receives the carton, he will break the seal along the dotted line 41 which coincides with the folded edge of the flap 44. The tape will be left adhering to the stop flap 44 and the easel flap 35 which will securely hold the two together. `If desired, glue can be applied to the inside of the .flap 44 before the tape 46 is applied but ordinarily the adhesion of the tape to the flaps 35 and 44 issufiicient. The merchant now raises the fiaps 35 and 42 to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and the wings 36 and 31 are turned outwardly until their inclined free edges contact with the under side of the ap 42. This braces the easel 35 securely in position and prevents its collapse.

'I'he merchant then breaks or tears the carton along the readily fracturable lines 23,y and 26 and turns the one half back against the other along the hinged connection or score line 24 into the position shown in Fig, 7. The end of the carton I have been referring to as the tcp end of the carton is now turned down so that it is raised on the easel and is supported in display position as best shown in Fig. 7. In this iigure, the easel ilap `is nearly vertical, sloping slightly toward the rear but is prevented from going back too far by reason of its connection with the stop iap 44 and the end nap 42, the latter flap now being horizontal and placed directly on the counter or other fixture where the display carton may be placed. The packages in the two halves of the carton now all face in the same direction because of their having been packed originally to face in opposite directions with respect to the tear line.

In Figs. 8 to 11, I have shown another embodiment of my invention in which the easel and top sealing flaps are diierent. This carton is also best made from a single piece blank as shown in Fig 8, which has front, rear'an'ci side panels I2, I3, I4, and I5 the same-as in Fig. 1 and a glue flap 22 which has a notch in alignment with the end ofthe carton, which is the top end of the blank, is closed by suitable aps 21, 28, 29 and 30.

At the top ends, the side panels I4 and I5 are provided with load flaps 3| and 32 and the rear panel I3 has an easel ap 35 to which easel wings 36 and 31 are connected along score lines 38 and 39, the wings being also joined to the side panels I4 and I5 along the score line I6 and each of them having a diagonal score or fold line 40, and 4I, the same as in the iigures previously described.y The front panel I2 has an easel securing flap 42 which in this case is of substanv tially the same width as the side panels I4 and I5,

and together with the flaps 3l and 32 supports the load in the carton.

The easel panel 35 has a glue flap 48 defined by a perforated line 49 along which the material of the carton may be readily torn.

The blank is assembled to form the empty carton the same as in Fig. 1 and the carton is filled in the same manner with the packages facing in opposite directions with respect to the two sections of the carton. When the carton is lled, the aps 3| and 32 are first turned inward and then the easel securing flap 42 is turned down and glued to them. This securely closes the top end of the carton as shown in Fig. 9. The wings 36 and 31 are then bent inwardly under the easel ilap 35 which is pressed down upon the top of the carton and held in place by gluing the flap 48 to the ap 42 as shown in Fig. 10. When the merchant receives the carton, he breaks it along the perforated line 49 and turns the easel up to the position shown in Fig. 11. He next tears or breaks the carton along the weakened line 23, 25, and 26 and turns the one half of the carton on the hinged connection into contact with the other section as shown in Fig. 10. The carton is then placed in display position with one end of the carton and the easel 35 placed on the counter or other store iixture as clearly shown in Figs. 12I and 13. The Wings 36 and 31 when straightened out as shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 strengthen and prevent collapse of the easel panel 35.

It will be noted that the easel ilaps 35are shorter than the width of the side panels I4, I5 and that the wings 36, 31 or easel brace 42 prevent the easel ilaps 35 from being turned back beyond the plane of the rear panel I3, as best shown in Figs. 7, 12 and 13. This results in a rigid construction and enables the easel to support the carton in a Very stable position. When the carton is in display position, the merchandise is displayed through the open ends of the two sections of the carton where broken along the lines 23, 25, 26. The lower section is supported on its front edge and by the easel ilap 35, while the upper section is supported partly on the lower section and partly by its connection along the hinge line 24, as clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 12.

While I have illustrated and described two forms that my invention may take, and While I have referred to the parts by specific terms, it will be understood that these are but illustrative of the invention and not to betaken as limitations. I claim as my invention all modications and equivalents thereof that may come Within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A carton having four sides and a closed end, load flaps for closing the other end of the carton, easel flaps hinged to the edges of the carton adjacent the load ilaps, said easel ilaps being foldable over said load flaps, and means for securing said easel flaps in folded position, said securing means being breakable to release said easel iiaps, said easel flaps being foldable on their hinge connections' to form an inclined support for the adjacent end of the carton. f

2. A carton having four sides and a closed end,

load ilapsfor closing the other end, easel aps connected along one'side to opposite edges of said other end, means for securing the free `sides of `securing said easel flaps in folded position over said load flaps, said easel flaps upon breaking said securing means being foldable to form an` inclined supportfor the adjacent end of the carton, said carton being divided into two sections by a breakable connection in three sides and a hinged con-` nection in the fourth side, said sections upon breaking said breakable connection being foldable on said hinged connection with their sides in contact and the severed edges lying in the same 4, A carton having four side walls divided into two sections by a breakable connection and a hinged connection, said sections adapted to be turned on said hinged connection into side contact, means for closing `one end `of each section, easel `forming meanssecured to the edges of one of said closed ends and foldable over the closing means, severable means for securing said easel forming means in folded position, said easel forming means being foldable into an inclined support for said sections upon severance of said securing means. n l

5. A cartonbl'ank comprising front, rear and two side panels, atear line extending across three of` said panels and a scored line across the other panel in alignment with the tear line, end sealing aps at the bottom end of said panels, load supporting ilaps at the top ends of the two side panels, an easel flap hingedly connected to the top end of the rear panel and having wings connected to the top ends of the side panels, a securing flap connected to the top edge of the front panel, and a glue fiapon one of said front and rear aps.

6. A carton blank comprising front, rear and` two side panels, a tear line extending across three of said panels and a scored line across theother panel in alignment with the tear line, end sealing flaps at the bottomend of said panels, load supporting flaps at the top ends of the two side panels, an easelflap hingedly connected to the top end of the rear -panel and having wings connected to the top ends of the side panels, a brace `flap secured to the top edge of the front panel, a

panel in alignment with the tear line, end sealing flaps at the bottom end of said panels, load supporting flaps at the top ends of the two side panels, an easel aphingedly connected to the` top end of the rear panel and having wings connected to the top ends of the two side panels, a-

securing flap secured to the top of said front panel of a length substantially equal to the widthof said side panels, and a securing flap secured to the free tcp edge of said easel flap alongaweakened line.

8, A carton having front, rear. and two side walls, means for closing one end of the carton, flaps at the other ends of the side and front walls forclosing the otherrend of the carton, an easel hingedly connected to the top` of the rear wall and the side walls at said other end, said easel being foldable over said front wall flap, and a glue flap secured to said easel along aweakened llneand said closed end,`saidieasel forming means upon j severance of said securing means being foldable into an inclined support for said sections.

10. A display and dispensing device comprising a `carton formed in `two sections connected bya hinged section and having abutting sides, each of said sections having a closed end and an open end, the two open ends lying in the same plane and being parallel to the closed ends, and an easel engaging one of said closed ends and supporting both of said closed ends in inclined position so that said open ends lie in an inclined plane to display merchandisacontained therein."

11. A carton having front, rear and side walls,

load flaps hingedly secured to the side walls at one end `of the carton and ioldable inwardly tov l close the end of the carton, an eas'el fiap hingedly secured to the rear wall at the said one end of theA carton, easel wings hingedly secured to the two said side walls and to opposite edges of said easel flap, said wings being scored along diagonal lines whereby the easel ilap and wings may be folded flat over the load flaps, and means for securing said easel flap and Wings in folded position, said securing means being breakable to release said easel iiap and wings.

`12. A carton formed from a single. sheet of material having frontrear and two side panels, an easel flap hinged to the edge of the rear panel, said easel iiap extending the full width of the rear panel and being of less length than the width of the side panels, said side panels having extensions adjacent said easel ilap, said extensions being divided to form load naps and easel wings. said easel wings being connected by score linesgto the ends of the said easel flap` and to the said side panels. i

- BRUCE J. DAVIDSON.` 

